The veteran diplomat’s comments were similar to the sentiments of the Foreign Minister from China who last week warned of a global recession if the current fractious position of the US and other trading partners continues to roll back the global consensus approach to world economic planning. At the UN, the Thai FM decried the brash ‘winner takes all’ mentality that has emerged.
Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai has criticised the anti-globalist movement rising throughout the world at the UN in New York and warned that the only way forward is for nations to work together while acknowledging the valid reason behind the phenomenon which has this year shattered Thailand’s economic growth prospects.
Thailand’s Foreign Minister at the UN last week emphasised the country’s commitment to a global world economy while acknowledging the reasons for the growing movement particularly in western countries against the phenomenon.
Pessimistic predictions for Thailand’s economy
It comes amid increasingly pessimistic projections about the outlook for the Thai economy as some analysts are projecting that continued export contraction which is feeding into the domestic economy will extend into 2020 and leave the government short of its 3% growth target for this year.
Thai Foreign Minister criticised the reemergence of nationalism and opposition to a global world
Speaking to the UN, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, a veteran diplomat who joined the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs 45 years ago, criticised what he termed as the misguided resurgence of nationalism and the hostility to the goal of an interconnected world economy.
Seemed to be taking issue with the policies of the US president since he came into office
He particularly took issue with the new zero-sum approach to world economics such as that advocated by US President Donald Trump who has made no secret of his preference to do away with a global approach to economic planning and world trade in favour of bilateral agreements much to the chagrin of international bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The US President has consistently pointed out to his electoral base at home in the United States that China is the beneficiary of such global policies at America’s expense and that his goal is to end the current state of affairs. President Trump has raised similar concerns about the European Union.
Comments consistent with Chinse FM’s remarks
The Thai Foreign Minister’s remarks were quite similar to those of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who also addressed the UN and warned that the world faces an economic recession if there is a failure to revert to a global consensus.
At the UN, the Thai Foreign Minister said this: ‘We shall sink or swim together, not alone, and not at the expense of the drowning of others. It is a not such a bad cliché at this juncture to say that we are in the same boat, and we are all in it together.’
Thai Foreign Minister has a unique perspective
Mr Don has worked in the Thai Foreign Affairs Department which he has led for fours year since 1974. He has a unique perspective being a former Thai ambassador to China, the European Union and the United States.
Acknowledged why the anti-global movement has risen and the need for ‘people-centric’ policies
Foreign Minister Don did acknowledge the reasons for the upsurge in for what he called ‘xenophobic populism’ across the world.
He said it had been caused by large sections of society in many countries being marginalised by a continued and dogmatic focus on economic growth to the exclusion of these people.
This exclusion is caused when governments buy into the growing movement towards a globalised world and economic growth above all other concerns. He described this as ‘detrimental, not beneficial to the many segments of society’ and highlighted Thailand’s approach with more ‘people-centric’ policies.
Progress reported on RCEP as Thailand to guide the next round of talks in Bangkok
His comments come as Thailand looks forward to stewarding the talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade area which are set to reconvene in Bangkok on Saturday, October 12th.
The director-general of the Trade Negotiation Department at Thailand’s Commerce Ministry Auramon Supthaweethum confirmed the date for the talks this week.
The biggest free trade area in the world with half the global economy if deal can be agreed
It is reported that recent talks which took place in Vietnam saw considerable progress made with 13 out of 20 chapters now completed. However, there is still a way to go to finalise all 20 chapters with the goal for this set for the end of the year.
The talks on the RCEP which would be the world’s biggest free trade area spanning half the global economy have gone on now for seven years.
The success of the talks has risen to the status of key priority on Thailand’s agenda as it seeks to counter the devastating effects of the US-China trade war and a more hostile world trade environment.
ASEAN united with six Asia Pacific countries
The RCEP comprises of the nation ASEAN community which Thailand is a part of and six other Asia Pacific countries including China, India, Australia, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand.
Further reading:
US Secretary of State in Bangkok heralds closer ties with ASEAN bloc – good news for Thailand
https://www.facebook.com/thaiexaminer/videos/539496733483595/
